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Lignin based production of commodity chemicals and fuels from plant biomass

Date:31 May 2022

Country: China Sweden

Plant Name:

    Plants

Residue Name:

    Lignin

End Products

Biochemicals

Commodity chemicals

Fuel

Biofuel

Application

  • The project has various applications, including medicinal chemistry, antitumor compounds, and the production of commodity chemicals and fuels.

Description

This project focuses on developing a sustainable method to break down lignin, a complex organic polymer found in plant biomass, into valuable chemicals. The traditional pulping process only upgrades cellulose, leaving behind lignin, which is often burned or wasted. Researchers have developed a metal-free, eco-friendly protocol using oxoammonium salts to selectively cleave C-C bonds in lignin oil, producing high-value monomeric compounds, such as 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone (DMBQ), with yields exceeding the theoretical maximum. This innovative approach has the potential to transform the chemical industry by utilizing plant residues instead of fossil fuels.

Pathway Description:

The project utilizes an eco-friendly oxidative cleavage method with oxoammonium salts to break down complex C–C and C–O bonds in lignin oil derived from abundant lignocellulosic biomass. This metal-free protocol selectively converts lignin dimers and oligomers into valuable 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone (DMBQ) with yields exceeding theoretical expectations. By employing Bobbitt’s salt as a recyclable oxidant, the process ensures sustainability through multiple reaction cycles with minimal efficiency loss. Ultimately, this approach transforms plant waste into high-value chemicals, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and promoting renewable resource utilization.

 

 

 

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Tags: Lignin ValorizationOxidative Cleavageof LigninDrop In Fuels from lignin

End Products

Biochemicals

Commodity chemicals

Fuel

Biofuel

Feedstock

Types of Feedstock

Secondary agricultural residue

Name

Lignin

Form

Solid biomass

Commercials

Abundantly available,Largely undervalued as it is mostly incinerated

Characteristics

Complex polymer composed of propylphenol subunits,High carbon content

Pathways

Chemical

Oxidative cleavage

Stakeholders

Educational Institution

East China University of Science and Technology,Stockholm University in Sweden